Tuesday’s UNCP roundup: volleyball gets home sweep

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PEMBROKE – The University of North Carolina at Pembroke volleyball team finished a four game home stand on Tuesday with a sweep in every sense of the word.

The Braves not only beat Virginia State and Coker in succession, but won both matches in three sets to give the team its third straight victory.

Virginia State lost 25-15, 25-15 and 25-22 and Coker fell 25-11, 25-13 and 25-11.

“We played really well today, we came out with intensity in both matches,” said UNCP coach Angie Byrd.

In the early match against the Trojans, UNCP relied on a dynamic offense and outhit Virginia State 45-23. The Lady Braves notched a .255 hitting percentage and finished with nine service aces.

The UNCP freshmen led the way with Sabrina Gonzalez turning in a game-high 16 kills. Caroline Pridgen and Morgan Westphal had 12 kills and 11 kills, respectfully, as Shekinah-Joy Toloumu dished out 40 assists.

Against Coker the Lady Braves had their best hitting performance of the season, tallying a .297 hitting percentage.

LIBERTY, Mo. – The UNCP football team continued its movement in the national polls on Tuesday afternoon as the Braves jumped five spots to No. 17 in the latest listing by D2Football.com, the online publication announced.

The Braves (2-0) leapfrogged both Tuskegee and Winston-Salem State. Defending national champion Valdosta State remains the nation’s top-ranked team for the third-straight poll, including last season’s final ranking.

Two other NCAA Super Region 2 teams are included in this week’s release, including No. 12 Carson-Newman and No. 14 West Alabama.

INDIANAPOLIS – Fueled by four golfers who turned in rounds of 4-over-par 76 or better, the UNCP men’s golf team registered its best round of the tournament to help the Braves finish in a tie for seventh at the Brickyard Invitational on Tuesday.

The Braves shot a combined 295 in the final round.

“This was a very strong finish for our team in a very strong field,” said UNCP coach David Synan.

Trent Cloninger shot a 1-over-par 73 to conclude the event in a tie for 24th place at 222 and newcomer Riley Davis shot an even-par 72 to finish at 226, putting him in a seven-way tie for 38th place. Purnell Swett alum Ian Locklear shot a 231, the team’s lowest score.

Men’s soccer ranked 4th in region

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Following a 1-1 week with a loss to No. 5 Wingate, the UNC Pembroke men’s soccer team stayed in the fourth spot in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Region Rankings on Tuesday, the organization announced.

Wingate holds the top spot in the regional rankings, with No. 11 Lander second and Anderson (S.C.) third.

Women’s cross country ranked 4th regionally

NEW ORLEANS – Following the first week of competition, the UNCP women’s cross country team moved up one spot to fourth in the first installment of the 2013 Southeast Region rankings announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches’ Association on Tuesday afternoon.

Reigning regional champion and Peach Belt Conference rival Columbus State tops the poll, followed by Wingate, Clayton State and UNCP.

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